As the regular season winds down, attention inevitably shifts to the annual tradition of major award voting. With ballots for these coveted accolades due before the playoffs begin, fans and analysts alike eagerly speculate on who will take home the hardware, the winners to be unveiled following the World Series.
Aaron Judge: Leading the Majors
Aaron Judge's offensive dominance has been a spectacle. Leading the majors in home runs, RBIs, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and WAR, he’s made a compelling case for the MVP. Judge’s impressive stats — .324/.460/.703 (224 OPS+), with 57 home runs, 142 RBI, 120 runs, and 10.6 WAR — underline his extraordinary season. Adding to his versatile value, Judge has tallied 10 stolen bases in 10 attempts and taken on the challenge of playing out of position in center field for much of the season.
Shohei Ohtani's Historic Campaign
Shohei Ohtani continues to astonish with his two-way brilliance. Achieving the rare feat of 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season, Ohtani’s performance has been nothing short of phenomenal. His stats — .303/.386/.642 (187 OPS+), with 53 home runs, 56 stolen bases, 125 RBI, 130 runs, and 8.6 WAR — further encapsulate one of the most unique skill sets in baseball history.
Cy Young Contenders: Skubal, Sale, and Wheeler
Tarik Skubal is at the forefront of the Cy Young conversation. Boasting an 18-4 record, 2.39 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, and 228 strikeouts in 192 innings, Skubal leads the league in wins, ERA, and strikeouts. Reflecting on his performance, one commentator stated, "Kudos to Emmanuel Clase for an absolutely top-shelf relief season, and if Skubal didn't exist this season in the AL, I would have been ready to make the argument for a reliever."
Chris Sale also remains in contention with an 18-3 record, 2.38 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, and 225 strikeouts in 177 2/3 innings. Despite not receiving a Cy Young vote since 2018, Sale’s history of strong finishes — including second, third, fourth (twice), fifth (twice), and sixth place in voting — keeps him in the mix.
Zack Wheeler, with a 16-7 record, 2.56 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, and 213 strikeouts in 193 2/3 innings, rounds out the group of leading candidates, providing stiff competition in a tightly contested race.
Cleveland Guardians' Surprising Success
The Cleveland Guardians have defied preseason expectations that pegged them for mediocrity. Initially projected to finish around .500 with a win total set at 79 and a predicted third-place finish in the AL Central, the team has wildly exceeded those forecasts. Despite losing key players like Shane Bieber to injury early in the season and underperformance from Triston McKenzie and Logan Allen, the Guardians are only half a game out of the best record in the American League. As one analyst observed, "And yet, the Guardians are only half a game out of the best record in the entire American League."
Resilience of the Milwaukee Brewers
Over in the National League, the Milwaukee Brewers have demonstrated remarkable consistency, not trailing in the NL Central since April 29. They’re on track to finish with the largest division lead of any first-place team. Despite the departure of Craig Counsell to the Chicago Cubs last winter, the team has maintained its steadiness under new leadership. "Murphy was promoted from within to take over a team that had already lost Brandon Woodruff for the 2024 season," highlighting the internal resilience within the organization.
The Brewers have also faced considerable adversity, including the season-ending injury of key players such as Brandon Woodruff and Christian Yelich. Corbin Burnes’ trade to the Orioles and Devin Williams’ injury further tested the team’s depth and resolve.
Conclusion
As we approach the end of the regular season, the narratives around major awards and team accomplishments are coming to a head. With ballots due soon and no clear front-runners in some categories, there's a palpable sense of anticipation. As one notable figure noted, "I'm an actual voter, and any prediction might be perceived as a hint as to which way I'm leaning. I will say, though, it's close enough that I do not yet know for sure how I'm voting."
Such is the nature of this thrilling and unpredictable sport, where even seasoned professionals find themselves in awe of the unfolding drama.